Tablet shipments fall for sixth quarter

PC market at lowest level since 2011 levels on back of poor tablet sales

Worldwide PC shipments, including desktops, notebooks, two-in-ones and tablets, totalled 101 million units in the first quarter of 2016, as total volumes dipped by 13% year on year to their lowest point since the second quarter of 2011.

Apple continued to lead the market into the first quarter of 2016 with shipments of just over 14 million units, despite falling 17%, the new figures from Canalys showed. Meanwhile, Lenovo shipped some 25,000 units less than Apple, as its decline moved into double digits on the back of weakening sales in Greater China.

Commented Tim Coulling, Canalys senior analyst: “The number of people looking to buy their first PC is at an all-time low and 2016 is likely to bring yet more turmoil to global PC vendors.”

Apart from two-in-ones, which grew just over 13%, shipments were weak across all categories, as vendors struggle with declines in global PC demand. Tablets continue to be the worst affected category, with shipments falling around 15% to just under 39 million units.

Coulling added: “The global PC market had a bad start to 2016 and it is difficult to see any bright spots for vendors in the coming quarters. The tablet boom has faded in the distance and the market is fully mature. Global shipments declines are expected to continue unless vendors bring transformational innovation to the market.

“Apple and Microsoft are propping up shipments in established markets with their detachables, but price points make them less affordable in low-income countries. Although other vendors are coming to market with cheaper alternatives, they are unlikely to have a big impact on volumes in the short term,” concluded Coulling.

All PC categories in Asia Pacific continue to experience weakness, affected by improving quality and falling prices in the smartphone market, said Canalys. In low-income markets, notebooks and tablets are no longer must-have products and multiple device ownership is becoming less common.

PC shipments in Asia Pacific and Greater China dipped 14% as the Chinese market saw its third consecutive quarter of double-digit declines.

Shipments in EMEA declined 15%, as notebooks were 18% lower than the previous year. Nevertheless, since the inflationary effect that Windows with Bing had on shipments has ceased in the second quarter of 2015, declines in the notebook market will reduce next quarter.

While annual comparisons in Western Europe are likely to improve next quarter, markets in Middle East and Africa will continue to struggle due to a challenging macro environment.

North America was the best performing region in the quarter, with PC shipments falling around 5%. The tablet market in the US was aided by shipments of large screen detachable tablets such as the iPad Pro and the Surface Pro 4.

Shipments of two-in-ones and detachable tablets are expected to continue to do well in the US and will grow in high income markets. New form factors will trigger an increase in PC ASPs, benefitting the two-in-one and tablet categories at the expense of notebooks.

About Smart Chimps

Smart Chimps is the creation of freelance editor, writer and media trainer, Heather McLean. Heather has been involved in telecoms journalism since 2001, specialising in mobile since 2002. Find out more